San Francisco - Led by Mr Lambert van Nistelrooij MEP, a delegation of MEPs visited EIT Digital's Silicon Valley hub today as part of an ICT innovation and entrepreneurship tour.

14 MEP members of EIF (European Internet Forum) and of EU40 (a cross-party network of young MEPs) have been on a study tour to Silicon Valley upon the initiative of the delegation lead, Lambert van Nistelrooij MEP (EIF Programming Committee co-chair). Under the theme of ‘ICT Innovation & Entrepreneurship: The Road to the Valley', the program of visits offered EU policy makers a hands-on experience of state-of-the-art technology development, top-level research and development sites and Silicon Valley's famous entrepreneurial ecosystem.

"The Silicon Valley tour as a whole has been instructive in developing our thinking on how to harness Europe's entrepreneurial and innovation potential. Meeting with the EIT Digital team and seeing firsthand the impact of having a centralized, pan European organization bridging the gap between EU and US markets has been inspiring. They are helping simplify entry to the European market place for US investment and buyers and making sure the best of European digital innovation and talent is visible internationally." Mr van Nistelrooij commented.

Sorin Moisa, MEP, an EIF and EU40 Member added: "One of the lessons Silicon Valley has to offer Europe with regard to innovation is that the perfect can indeed be the enemy of the good. That the scientific 'fullness' that we often seek in Europe could be better balanced against consumer preferences and good business cases. That software is at least as important as hardware. That flat hierarchies allowing individual freedom allow creativity to flourish. That failure can mean learning and progress and should not be socially condemned. We have many great innovative ecosystems in the EU to which we can - and will - bring back ideas from this great experience. I was also very happy to experience firsthand the significant presence and contribution of European creativity to 'the miracle' of Silicon Valley.‎"

US market access for European companies requires an engagement model with main US industry players for sales, funding and collaborations. EIT Digital promotes European companies' innovations in the US, and facilitates access of US organizations to key partners across several EU countries with focus on universities and research centers with leading-edge technologies and expertise. EIT Digital also promotes collaboration on standards that result in economic and societal benefits for Europe.

Digital Silicon Valley Director Marko Turpeinen explained: "We launched our Silicon Valley hub in 2014 to help strengthen the flow of ideas, talents, students, researchers, entrepreneurs, technology, start-ups, and investments between Europe and the US. We were delighted to welcome the EU40 MEP and EIF members to our Silicon Valley hub and give our perspective on how a coordinated, pan European approach to the US digital market is creating traction and building successful relationships and tangible business results."